Lot 9267: Buzz Aldrin’s Apollo 11 ‘Type 1’ Flown Cover

Lot 9267: Signed Apollo 11 'Type 1' insurance cover, 6.5 x 3.5, with a printed color cachet of the moon landing and a cancellation date of July 20, 1969, Houston, Texas, signed in blue felt tip by Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin. Cover is also marked along the reverse bottom edge, "BA23." The cover is lightly affixed to a sheet of personal letterhead signed by Buzz Aldrin, which reads, in part: "This Manned Spacecraft Center Stamp Club postal cover…is one of the 'insurance covers' signed by the Apollo 11 crew before our launch on July 16, 1969…The cover displayed above has been in my private collection since 1969 and has an identifier of BA23 written on the reverse side. It was signed by the Apollo 11 crew—Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and myself prior to launch." In fine condition. These famous insurance covers, produced immediately prior to space missions in order to provide financial security for astronauts' families in case of disaster, have earned near-legendary status as the ultimate space-related philatelic item, and exist as one of the most sought-after formats for astronaut autographs.
RR Auction's Space and Aviation Auction 463
Thursday, 22nd October 2015
Estimate: $8000-10000